Method and apparatus for moving information displayed in a window

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing the user of a computing device displaying information to control the navigational aspects of the displaying while retaining ease of use and other desireable characteristics. Specifically, the user is provided with an opaque box having a dot located in the center which can be dragged and dropped. The dragging and dropping of the dot controlling the distance and direction with which the information is moved.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of navigating an image contained in a window, the method comprising the steps of: creating a navigational area superimposed on the image and having a shape and color so as to provide minimal interference with the image;   inserting a location indicator into the navigational area;   dragging the location indicator from an initial position to a final position;   indicating, prior to moving the image, the distance from the initial position to the final position; and   moving the image, within the confines of the window, in a direction and distance corresponding to the initial and final positions of the location indicator.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: repositioning, after the image has moved, the location indicator back to the initial position.   
     
     
       3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of dragging is performed using a mouse. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of dragging is performed using a touch screen. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 2 wherein the navigational area has a one-to-one correspondence with the window. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of: dropping the location indicator on the final position.   
     
     
       7. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of moving the image includes: moving the image, within the confines of the window and in response to the dropping of the location indicator, in a direction and distance corresponding to the initial and final positions of the location indicator.   
     
     
       8. An apparatus for navigating an image contained in a window, the apparatus comprising: means for creating a navigational area superimposed on the image and having a shape and color so as to provide minimal interference with the image;   means for inserting a location indicator into the navigational area;   means for dragging the location indicator from an initial position to a final position;   means for indicating, prior to moving the image, the distance from the initial position to the final position; and   means for moving the image, within the confines of the window, in a direction and distance corresponding to the initial and final positions of the location indicator.   
     
     
       9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising: means for repositioning, after the image has moved, the location indicator back to the initial position.   
     
     
       10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the means for dragging is performed using a mouse. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the means for dragging is performed using a touch screen. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the navigational area has a one-to-one correspondence with the window. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising: means for dropping the location indicator on the final position.   
     
     
       14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the means for moving the image includes: means for moving the image, within the confines of the window and in response to the dropping of the location indicator, in a direction and distance corresponding to the initial and final positions of the location indicator.   
     
     
       15. A computer program product comprising: a computer readable usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in the medium for navigating an image contained in a window, the computer readable program code means including means for creating a navigational area superimposed on the image and having a shape and color so as to provide minimal interference with the image;   means for inserting a location indicator into the navigational area;   means for dragging the location indicator from an initial position to a final position;   means for indicating, prior to moving the image, the distance from the initial position to the final position; and   means for moving the image, within the confines of the window, in a direction and distance corresponding to the initial and final positions of the location indicator.     
     
     
       16. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the computer readable program code means further comprises: means for repositioning, after the image has moved, the location indicator back to the initial position.   
     
     
       17. The computer program product of claim 16 wherein the navigational area has a one-to-one correspondence with the window. 
     
     
       18. The computer program product of claim 16 wherein the computer readable program code means further includes: means for dropping the location indicator on the final position.   
     
     
       19. The computer program product of claim 18 wherein the means for moving the image includes: means for moving the image, within the confines of the window and in response to the dropping of the location indicator, in a direction and distance corresponding to the initial and final positions of the location indicator.